Meet the Practitioners

Meet Ellie Pickering

Ellie started her practice in 1987 after completing her certification in massage therapy from the Chicago School ofMassage Therapy. In 2003, she received her master's degree in Chinese medicine from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine. Ellie is board certified and licensed in the state of Illinois.

Ellie is also certified in Chinese reproductive medicine through the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM). She specializes in helping couples achieve healthy pregnancies using natural healing methods.

Yoga - Ellie began her study of Iyengar yoga in 1989 and has been teaching yoga since 1996. She has studied with senior Iyengar instructors which include Lois Steinberg, Manuso Manos, Roger Eischens, Judy Landecker and Leslie Riley. Ellie is a devoted teacher and generously imparts her knowledge and skill with all of her students. She welcomes students of all ages, shapes and sizes, race, and spiritual beliefs to join in.

Dance - Ellie is an award-winning dancer and has performed nationwide. She received a B.A. in dance from Barat College where she studied classical ballet. After college, Ellie continued her study of dance at the Lou Conte Dance Studio and went on to perform professionally in numerous dance venues. In 2007, she danced in the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Salome and was one of the featured dancers at their 2007 annual fundraiser.

Commitment for a Happy, Healthy LifeEllie is committed to promoting active, healthy lifestyles and providing affordable health care to all members of the community. She welcomes you to her practice and invites you to call her anytime for questions or concerns regarding your health.

Meet Amanda Tarver

Amanda is a nationally-certified massage therapist licensed with the state of Illinois (LMT). She focuses specifically on promoting women's health through bodywork and education. She works primarily with women doing pre- and perinatal massage, and is dedicated to helping women transition into motherhood with ease and a sense of joy. Amanda is certified in pre- and perinatal massage through Body Therapy Associates, and is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CEIM) associated with Infant Massage USA. She offers infant massage classes, as well as, provides "in home" instruction for parents and their newborn baby. Doula - Amanda is trained as a birth doula through DONA. She provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; and provides emotional and practical support during the post-partum period.Placenta Encapsulation Specialist - Amanda is also trained as a placenta encapsulation specialist (PES) through Placenta Benefits. She collects, prepares and encapsulates your placenta for you to take as a supplement during the post-partum period. ContactInformationPhone: (312)607-3194Email: atarverlmt@gmail.comWebsite: www.massageanddoula.com